University Times

Cleanup is continuing following heavy June storms that caused flooding or other water damage in a number of University buildings on the Pittsburgh and Greensburg campuses.

A preliminary report by Facilities Management estimated the damage to University properties in Pittsburgh at more than $497,000.

In addition to an estimate of nearly $300,000 in damages tallied by Facilities Management, the Office of Housing and Residence Life estimated $200,000 in damage occurred at Maggie & Stella’s in Pitt’s Sennott Square building. According to John Fedele, associate director of news, the damage at the gift shop occurred after water in sewer lines backed up and caused a cleanout valve to fail.

Fedele said the University is still assessing the cleanup and repair costs and would submit damage claims to its insurer. He had no estimate on when storm-related repairs would be complete.

UPG spokesperson Susan Isola said no cost estimates were available for the flood damage on the Pitt-Greensburg campus where some computer equipment and flooring was damaged by flooding in McKenna Hall, which houses the campus computer center.

Flooding also occurred in UPG’s Smith Hall, which houses the campus’s science and engineering facilities, faculty offices, classrooms and labs. There, teaching aids such as hand-held calculators, laboratory supplies and office supplies were lost, she said. Damage to the building’s basement level included the loss of all its wooden doors, carpeting and tile flooring as well as baseboards and portions of drywall up to two feet above floor level.

According to the June 25 Facilities Management report, leaking roofs, flooding from backed up drains and rainwater infiltration damaged flooring, ceilings and walls in a number of buildings across the Pittsburgh campus, prompting Facilities Management to buy 10 wet/dry vacuums and 19 dehumidifiers to help affected areas of the campus dry out.

According to the report, the Stephen Foster Memorial suffered an estimated $71,000 in damage to fuses, flooring, its theatre stage and other equipment.

Department of Theatre Arts operations manager Laura McCarthy said water reached the first row of seats in the Henry Heymann Theatre, located on the building’s lower level. Drywall, backstage floors and dressing room carpeting were impacted and the entire stage floor had to be replaced.

The damage could have been worse, but students who were in the building the night of the storm were able to move some equipment off the floor and out of the reach of the rainwater, McCarthy said.

The repair work forced the cast of the Pittsburgh Irish and Classical Theatre’s production of “Doubt” to move rehearsals to the music department’s Bellefield Hall auditorium while carpenters replaced the stage floor, but the show will go on. The music department was “fabulous,” she said, grateful for the interdepartmental cooperation and coordination that will enable the production to open tonight as planned.

“The Facilities [Management] people have been wonderful getting us up as soon as possible and ready for an audience,” she said.

Stormwater backup and roof leaks caused an estimated $35,000 damage in Salk Hall and the Salk Hall Annex. Some dental school employees have been displaced temporarily as replacement of ceiling tiles, drywall, carpet and other flooring continues, but the school’s clinical services have not been affected, said William Steinhauser, the school’s director of facilities and operations.

Repairs and replacement of carpeting are continuing in Bellefield Hall, where water damage forced Computing Services and Systems Development’s software licensing staff from their first-floor office to higher ground on the building’s second floor.

Elevators in Chevron Science Center and Craig Hall were damaged and significant flooding was reported in Thackeray Hall, where more than 3,000 diplomas awaiting delivery to recent graduates were ruined. Flooring and walls as well as computers and files also were damaged in Thackeray Hall, with losses estimated at $20,000.

The cost to repair damage to a variable frequency drive that controls one of the McGowan Institute’s HVAC rooftop units was estimated at $17,000.

Practice rooms and the library elevator lobby were flooded in the Music Building, electronic equipment was damaged in Old Engineering Hall and a window was broken by water pressure in a Clapp Hall window well. The engineer’s office and mechanical room in Clapp Hall also were flooded, damaging a radio and phone.

Some flooding on the 7th -12th floors of Benedum Hall, which is undergoing a multi-million dollar renovation, was attributed to leaking associated with contractors’ work on the roof.

Hillman Library sustained damage to its electrical system, carpet and ceiling tiles.

Pitt’s baseball field was damaged when a sewer manhole cover blew off, eroding the field and allowing debris to wash onto the home plate area.

Cleanups also were needed at Allen Hall, Alumni Hall, Barco Law Building, the Cathedral of Learning, the Cost Center, Crawford Hall, David Lawrence Hall, Eberle Hall, the Eureka Building, Falk School, Fitzgerald Field House, Frick Fine Arts, Heinz Chapel, the Information Sciences Building, the Learning Research and Development Center, Posvar Hall, the Space Research Coordination Center, William Pitt Union, 121 University Place, the Allegheny Observatory and the University Child Development Center.

A number of University parking areas were affected by standing water including the Panther Hollow lot, Posvar garage and Soldiers and Sailors garage, where several exhaust fans also were damaged by water.

The June 17 storm that dropped nearly 3 inches of rain on Pittsburgh caused flooding in the region and prompted Gov. Edward G. Rendell to proclaim a disaster emergency in Allegheny and Westmoreland counties. Pitt’s campuses in Bradford, Johnstown and Titusville were unaffected.

—Kimberly K. Barlow